Sun Chariot
Established Member
Bravo @D1537Odin and Thor. 47081 and 47091.
Nearly there, M!
Yes, a teaser as THOR was D1671 and then, from April 1966, D1677 (47091).
My favourite 16 wheeler EE. D210.Another type 4
EOB

Bravo @D1537Odin and Thor. 47081 and 47091.
My favourite 16 wheeler EE. D210.Another type 4
EOB
I think Odin and Thor are the only Norse ones in the original WR named 47 series. Most were Greek mythology, Samson of course comes from the Bible but goodness knows where they got "Mammoth" from.I only know the classic mythologies![]()
Spot on sir!My favourite 16 wheeler EE. D210.![]()
In the mythology of the Evenk people, mammoths were responsible for the creation of the world, digging up the land from the ocean floor with their tusks.I think Odin and Thor are the only Norse ones in the original WR named 47 series. Most were Greek mythology, Samson of course comes from the Bible but goodness knows where they got "Mammoth" from.
A stylish hark back to the nameplates style of Westerns (the Warships I think had slightly different font).those short one word nameplates in that distinctive font looked great on those WR 47s
Weren't some of these names recycled from the GWR broad gauge era? Swindon came up with a rich collection of names drawn from myth and legend in the days of Daniel Gooch.I think Odin and Thor are the only Norse ones in the original WR named 47 series. Most were Greek mythology, Samson of course comes from the Bible but goodness knows where they got "Mammoth" from.
Ah, very good point. So, looking at it...Weren't some of these names recycled from the GWR broad gauge era? Swindon came up with a rich collection of names drawn from myth and legend in the days of Daniel Gooch.
First East Anglian Regiment.Now I'll move to the Eastern Region - and with a naming theme akin to the class 45 thread I'm guilty of derailing!
FEAR
Clue: This one was "one of three".
Spot on, very goodFirst East Anglian Regiment.
LADY !
Not so much with me (29), I knew exactly which Peak was being referred to when I saw this lolThat'll have younger folk here scratching their heads!
Likely because I'm a avid Deltic follower, that is one acronym whose loco the name belongs to I can ID more or less instantly. Same with RSG.I wonder if KOYLI means anything to some of our younger readers, too.![]()
At least they didn’t revive Lagoon. For the uninitiated, the foundry workers at Swindon got a bit confused when it came to casting the nameplate for Laocoon. (Trojan priest who didn’t fall for the idea that a large wooden horse was just a gift - so was punished by the Greek gods.) No idea where to find the diacritic that should be over the 3rd o on my phone….Ah, very good point. So, looking at it...
The others (Odin, Colossus and Thor) appear not to have broad gauge steam antecedents, unless I'm missing something. (There was a Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Colossus, scrapped in 1927, but I doubt if that's relevant).
- Mammoth was indeed a GWR broad gauge loco (as was North Star, which I'd forgotten). Other names that were taken from these locos were Atlas, Orion, Cyclops, Sam(p)son, Amazon and Vulcan.
- Titan and Python were SDR broad gauge locos and so were amalgamated into the GWR later on. There were also SDR locos named Atlas, Sam(p)son and Vulcan separate to the GWR ones!
Classic names will always remain classic. I can’t imagine any positive reminiscence for Clothes Show Live or BBC Look North for example. Corporate naming somehow devalued the naming of locos, it also encouraged the constant renaming of locos if contracts were lost or locos reallocated.I know this isn't strictly what this thread is about (is it one worth starting?), but names carried by the Deltics, the 50s, the 77s/EM2s, 86s/87s, Warships & the Westerns are among the best named locos of the post-steam BR era. Most were short, to the point and/or otherwise distinct and were all the better for it. Some of the names that the ScotRail 47/7 shove-duffs and refurbished 37s recieved in the 80s are also worth a mention
I’d add to that list the “Shell” 47s and the 60s - not going for the “cheap publicity” (seemed cheap even if it wasn’t) of the TV programmes etc. Also good where there was an overarching theme/themes.I know this isn't strictly what this thread is about (is it one worth starting?), but names carried by the Deltics, the 50s, the 77s/EM2s, 86s/87s, Warships & the Westerns are among the best named locos of the post-steam BR era. Most were short, to the point and/or otherwise distinct and were all the better for it. Some of the names that the ScotRail 47/7 shove-duffs and refurbished 37s recieved in the 80s are also worth a mention
Wolf of Badenoch, Crepello, Western Firebrand, Defiance, to name a few.
55002 received its 1960s 2-tone green in 1980 and it became a celebrity in the Deltics final year. I invariably saw the railway press of that time, refer to it in print as KOYLI.Likely because I'm a avid Deltic follower, that is one acronym whose loco the name belongs to I can ID more or less instantly. Same with RSG.
Royal Naval Reserve 1859-1959.Back to the Western Region and I'm keeping with the military theme:
RNR(date-date)
Oh for "proper" rescue haulage again. The best rescue I had, was early 1984 when 31432 expired near Dent and, after two hours of being pelted by a Pennine pebbledash, a 25/1 out of Skipton burbled up and then thrashed all the way to Leeds.It failed on me 4 times! Rescued by rubbish every time except one.......when 20205 and 20227 were dispatched from Thornton Junction![]()
BullseyeRoyal Naval Reserve 1859-1959.
There was a time in 1983/4 when we would actively seek out 27/0s renumbered from /1s and /2s on the Dundee services because they would fail so often after being hammered to death on the push-pulls as their previous numbers. I managed a few slow speed fitted 20s that way!Oh for "proper" rescue haulage again. The best rescue I had, was early 1984 when 31432 expired near Dent and, after two hours of being pelted by a Pennine pebbledash, a 25/1 out of Skipton burbled up
Couldn't agree more. The name on a modern locomotive has lost its value and is likely to be more transient and with a commercial angle. Fair play to DRS, however who have named most (but not all) of their 68 & 88 fleets sensibly, and have avoided telling us how many days their TMD has gone without a reportable accident, or some other drivel. (I noticed that name has disappeared, so perhaps there was an accident.....but as it was on a 66 I think, I'd never notice)Classic names will always remain classic. I can’t imagine any positive reminiscence for Clothes Show Live or BBC Look North for example. Corporate naming somehow devalued the naming of locos, it also encouraged the constant renaming of locos if contracts were lost or locos reallocated.
Rue the day if we see locos named after politicians:The name on a modern locomotive has lost its value and is likely to be more transient and with a commercial angle.
In my 6 figures of miles of train travel, I have never once pulled the communication cord.....but this might tempt me!Rue the day if we see locos named after politicians:
"For our ascent of Lickey, Angela Rayner is on the pull up front and Nigel Farage will shove us up rear".
Indeed, but even with all that, there have been some good ones in recent times. Black Douglas, Felix and Achilles were my picks from the TPE 68s as one example.Classic names will always remain classic. I can’t imagine any positive reminiscence for Clothes Show Live or BBC Look North for example. Corporate naming somehow devalued the naming of locos, it also encouraged the constant renaming of locos if contracts were lost or locos reallocated.
Oh yes of course. Can't forget those named after mountains and significant figures in the scientific/industrial fields.I’d add to that list the “Shell” 47s and the 60s - not going for the “cheap publicity” (seemed cheap even if it wasn’t) of the TV programmes etc. Also good where there was an overarching theme/themes.
47641. The nameplate was removed a week or so later, photos are quite rare. I had it on the Newcastle-Poole and didn't take one ... grr.A stylish hark back to the nameplates style of Westerns (the Warships I think had slightly different font).
The "mythology" plates looked superb on large logo livery - I saw COLOSSUS sat freshly outside Crewe Works paint shop May 1986.![]()
Though planned I don’t think she was joined by her sisters SEAR and TEAR.Now I'll move to the Eastern Region - and with a naming theme akin to the class 45 thread I'm guilty of derailing!
FEAR
Clue: This one was "one of three".
5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards (D62/45143).I mooted D50 / 45040 but it doesn't fit the O
D9006 / 55006
Another cryptic candidate: 5RIDG
Indeed. The Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) and The King's Own Royal Border Regiment respectively.D71 / 45049 and D58 / 45043.![]()
The various online sources I perused, seem to have differing stances:Though planned I don’t think she was joined by her sisters SEAR and TEAR
That's a brilliant idea. It took me until my English Literature O Level, to discover who the heck Fair Rosamund was....I have always thought a small plate of explanation would go well under some of the names, for example those after the Soham 1944 loco crew, describing their significance.
I never realised 641 carried the name for such a short time. I took it purely because it was clean; as my interest was much more on the rows of 40s and 84008 on Crewe Works' "death row".47641. The nameplate was removed a week or so later, photos are quite rare. I had it on the Newcastle-Poole and didn't take one ... grr.
The nameplate went to 47564 and 47641 toddled off to Scotland where it was named "Fife Region".
Which of course if memory serves me correctly was on a Class 87 too.Indeed, but even with all that, there have been some good ones in recent times. Black Douglas, ---------